Motor vehicle with a front-mounted engine and air guide chassis

ABSTRACT

A motor vehicle with a forward-mounted engine and a forward-situated air intake has a tubular chassis element running in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Between the air intake and the chassis element there is a guide arrangement for leading air into and through the chassis element past at least one major vehicle component, advantageously the vehicle&#39;s gearbox, situated inside the chassis element. Downstream from that major vehicle component there is an air outlet.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a forward-mounted engine,and a tubular chassis element for guiding air flow.

STATE OF THE ART

In trucks it is usual for the engine, clutch, gearbox and othercomponents to be situated far forward, under a driver's cab, which isoften tiltable forwards to provide access. These components and thedrivers cab usually have extending to the rear of them an open vehiclefame which consists of C-beams, supports rear axles and has on top of itsome form of load carrier which extends sideways beyond the vehicleframe.

Such a type of vehicle frame is relatively weak fexurally andtorsionally and causes limitations with regard to good runningcharacteristics in cases where a rigid vehicle frame is desired. Thistype of vehicle superstructure, with an engine space which is usuallyopen downwards, and with components situated at various points forwardon the vehicle, entails relatively large flow resistance which hasunfavourable effects on operational economics.

In the light of endeavours to improve the running characteristics andoperational economics of vehicles, arrangements of these known kindstherefore seem less advantageous.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to provide an improved vehicle design which does nothave the aforesaid disadvantages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved according to the invention by a motor vehiclewith an air guiding, tubular shape chassis element extending from an airinlet at the front to an air outlet at the rear, a guide arrangementaround the engine for guiding air entering the air intake of the vehiclepast the engine and into and though the chassis element. A vehiclecomponent in the tubular chassis element is affected by the air flow.

Providing motor vehicles with a tubular chassis element which can easilybe made resistant to torsion and bending makes it possible forcomponents forming part of the vehicle's driveline to be provided withgood protection by being situated inside this chassis element. Furtherdesigning the vehicle so that air is led through this chassis element bymeans of a guide arrangement provides components within the chassiselement with necessary cooling and makes it possible for the vehicle tobe provided, by means of the guide arrangement and the chassis element,with a smoother underside and hence reduced flow resistance while inmotion.

Further advantages and fetes of the invention arm indicated in theensuing description and patent claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of anembodiment depicted in the attached drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a motor vehicleaccording to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic horizontal section through the vehicle in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a section III—III in FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a section IV—IV in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A motor vehicle 1 of the truck type depicted in FIG. 1 has, running inits longitudinal direction, a tubular chassis element 2 which isprovided on each side with a number of support devices 3 which aredistributed along the chassis element 2 and protrude sideways. Thechassis element 2 and the support devices 3 have resting on then a loadplatform 4 which may possibly be provided with some form ofsuperstructure. In front of the load platform 4 there is a driver's cab5 which has at its front an air intake 6 which may possibly have anumber of apertures in the vehicle's front.

As indicated in more detail in FIG. 2, them is behind the air intake 6 afan 7, advantageously of radial type, which propels air radially towardsa radiator 9 which belongs to the vehicle's engine 8, is arranged roundthe fan 7 and may advantageously be divided into a number of individualradiator elements. The fan 7 and the radiator 9 are dimensioned toprovide good cooling of the engine 8 in a variety of opting situations.Part of the air drawn in is discharged, after passing the radiator 9,via air vents 10, e.g. one on each side of the vehicle. The remainder ofthe air drawn in is led partly as combustion air to the engine 8 andpartly via a guide arrangement 11 past the engine 8 into the inside ofthe tubular chassis element 2 before finally leaving the chassis element2 via an air outlet 12 at the latter's rear end. The air flow isrepresented by arrows 13.

The guide arrangement 11 round the motor 8 includes (see FIG. 3) a lowerportion 14 in the driver's cab 5, a bottom plate 1 arranged under theengine and a section 16 of the front wheel housing. These various partsare jointly designed so that air is led round the engine and rearwardsto the chassis element 2. The bottom plate 15 is also intended to reduceair resistance by providing the front portion of the vehicle with asmooth underside. The engine 8 rests on beams 17 which are fastened inthe forward end of the chassis element 2.

FIG. 2 also shows that from the engine 8 a forward driveshaft 18 runsinside the chassis element 2 to a gearbox 19 which is accommodatedlikewise inside the chassis element 2 and is situated immediatelyforward of, and is connected to, a first rear axle 20. A second rearaxle 21 is driven from the gearbox 19 via a rear driveshaft 22. The airwhich flows through the chassis element 2 cools the gearbox 19 and alsoother components situated in the chassis element 2, e.g. a compressor 23for the vehicle's brake system and components for the vehicle's airconditioning system The two rear axles 20 and 21 are supported movablyin the chassis element 2 via suspension parts not further detailed here.

The construction of the chassis element 2 executed in the form of ashell structure is indicated in more detail in FIG. 4. At mutualspacings along the chassis element 2 there are a number of rectangularribs 25 which have panels 26 fastened round their sides so as to form atubular space 27. At at least some of the ribs 25, support devices 3 arefastened on both sides and have side panels 28 and bottom panels 29fastened to them. The underside panels 26 and 29 provide the vehiclewith a smooth underside, and the aide panels 28 and bottom panels 29create enclosed spaces for various components on both sides of thechassis element 2. Advantageously, at least some of the panels, or partsof them, are detachable to provide access to components in or alongsidethe chassis element 2.

The air outlet 12 at the rear of the chassis element 2 may take the formof apertures in an endplate on the chassis element 2. It is possible forthe chassis element 2 to contain a fan 30 to influence the air flow. Onepossibility is for this fan to be situated at the air outlet 12. Theribs 25 forming part of the chassis element 2, and the panels 26, aredimensioned so as to create a structure resistant to bending andtorsion. This combined with advantageously designed wheel suspensionsmakes improved vehicle running characteristics possible. The protectedspace within the rigid chassis element 2 makes it possible for thegearbox to be situated close to the vehicle's powered wheels, resultingin good weight distribution, while at the same time the transmissionpath for large torques from the gearbox will be short and the gearboxwill be in a well-protected location

The air which flows through the chassis element 2 is normally intendedfor cooling various components inside the chassis element, but it is ofcourse possible, e.g. for operation in severe cold, to lead warmer airrearwards and thereby reduce the cooling. This may be achieved, forexample, by using advantageously designed air flow switching devices tocause a g proportion of the air passing the radiator 9 to pass throughthe chassis element 2.

The design of the guide arrangement 11 for the air flow rearwards roundthe engine 8 depends on the design of the forward portion of the vehicleand may therefore be designed otherwise than as described here.

What is claimed is:
 1. A motor vehicle including an engine and an airintake, both located toward the front of the vehicle: a tubular chassiselement extending longitudinally from the front part toward the rear ofthe vehicle, the chassis element having a substantially constantexternal cross-section along the length thereof; the chassis elementincluding an air inlet located at the front and an air outlet located atthe rear; a guide arrangement disposed in the vehicle and shaped to leadair flow from the air intake into the air inlet of the chassis element;the engine is disposed forward of the chassis element, and the guidearrangement is connected forwardly to the air intake and rearwardly tothe chassis element; and at least one vehicle component disposed insidethe chassis element positioned so air moving through the chassis elementto the air outlet passes the component.
 2. The vehicle of claim 1,wherein the guide arrangement is shaped to surround the engine.
 3. Thevehicle of claim 2, wherein the guide arrangement includes a bottomplate disposed under the engine.
 4. The vehicle of claim 3, furtherincluding a driver's cab, a lower portion of the driver's cab comprisingpart of the guide arrangement.
 5. The motor vehicle of claim 1, furthercomprising a fan arrangement inside the chassis element and operable toassist air flow through the chassis element toward the outlet.
 6. Thevehicle of claim 5, wherein the fan arrangement is located toward therear of the chassis element and toward the air outlet.
 7. The vehicle ofclaim 1, further comprising a plate at the rear of the chassis elementwhich provides the air outlet for the chassis element.
 8. The vehicle ofclaim 1, wherein a component of the vehicle drive line is located insidethe chassis element.
 9. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: aradiator for the engine located at the engine; air vents disposed in thepath of air from the air intake and located past the radiator, the airvents being shaped and positioned to discharge part of the air drawninto the air intake and to reduce the air supplied to the guidearrangement.
 10. A motor vehicle including an engine and an air intake,both located toward the front of the vehicle: a tubular chassis elementextending longitudinally from the front part toward the rear of thevehicle, the chassis element having a substantially constant externalcross-section alone the length thereof; the chassis element including anair inlet located at the front and an air outlet located at the rear; aguide arrangement disposed in the vehicle and shaped to lead air flowfrom the air intake into the air inlet of the chassis element; and atleast one vehicle component disposed inside the chassis elementpositioned so air moving through the chassis element to the air outletpasses the component, wherein the vehicle component inside the chassiselement is a gear box of the vehicle.
 11. A motor vehicle including: anengine and an air intake, both located toward the front of the vehicle;a tubular chassis element extending longitudinally from the front of thevehicle toward the rear, the chassis element defining an air passagehaving a substantially constant internal cross-section along the lengththereof and including an air inlet located at the front and an airoutlet located at the rear; a guide arrangement disposed in the vehicleand shaped to lead air flow from the air intake into the air inlet ofthe chassis element; the engine is disposed forward of the chassiselement, and the guide arrangement is connected forwardly to the airintake and rearwardly to the chassis element; and at least one vehiclecomponent disposed inside the chassis element positioned so air movingthrough the chassis element to the air outlet passes the component. 12.The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the guide arrangement is shaped tosurround the engine.
 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the guidearrangement includes a bottom plate disposed under the engine.
 14. Thevehicle of claim 13, further including a driver's cab, a comprising partof the guide arrangement.
 15. The motor vehicle of claim 11, furthercomprising a fan arrangement inside the chassis element and operable toassist air flow through the chassis element toward the outlet.
 16. Thevehicle of claim 15, wherein the fan arrangement is located elementtoward the rear of the chassis element and toward the air outlet. 17.The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a plate at the rear of thechassis element which provides the air outlet for the chassis element.18. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein a component of the vehicle driveline is located inside the chassis element.
 19. The vehicle of claim 11,further comprising: a radiator for the engine located at the engine; airvents disposed in the path of air from the air intake and located pastthe radiator, the air vents being shaped and positioned to dischargepart of the air drawn into the air intake and to reduce the air suppliedto the guide arrangement.
 20. A motor vehicle including: an engine andan air intake, both located toward the front of the vehicle; a tubularchassis element extending longitudinally from the front of the vehicletoward the rear, the chassis element defining an air passage having asubstantially constant internal cross-section along the length thereofand including an air inlet located at the front and an air outletlocated at the rear; a guide arrangement disposed in the vehicle andshaped to lead air flow from the air intake into the air inlet of thechassis element; and at least one vehicle component disposed inside thechassis element positioned so air moving through the chassis element tothe air outlet passes the component, wherein the vehicle componentinside the chassis element is a gear box of the vehicle.